Work with local patient groups to publicise and promote processes for ensuring that doctors are up to date and fit to practise.

Continue work to drive up the quality and consistency of appraisal and make sure the process is properly resourced.

Explore ways to make it easier for doctors to pull together and reflect upon supporting information for their appraisal. This might occur through better IT systems or investment in administrative support teams.

Ensure effective processes are in place for quality assurance of local appraisal and revalidation decisions, including provision for doctors to provide feedback and to challenge decisions they feel are unfair.

Avoid using revalidation as a lever to achieve local objectives above and beyond the GMC’s revalidation requirements.

Boards should hear regularly about the learning coming from revalidation and how local processes are developing. They should also challenge their organisations as to how revalidation is helping to improve safety and increase assurance for patients.

For the government health departments, advised by the GMC:

Review the RO Regulations with a view to establishing a prescribed connection to a designated body for all doctors who need a licence to practise in the UK.

Review the criteria for prescribed connections for locums on short-term placements.